Page 5 of Temptation

There’s a ringing in my ears.

I am not out of it altogether.

I can hear footsteps around me and male voices yelling, the sounds muffled and distant.

“Go after him.” More footsteps.

And then I feel someone hovering over me, their presence a warm weight in my barely-there awareness.

A squeeze on my arm, a brush of warmth against my cheek.

My eyelids flutter open and close again. I take a deep breath and slowly open my eyes again, blinking hard and fast to clear the haze.

Blurred edges of vision snap into sharp focus, revealing the icy blue eyes of Fabrizio Moretti piercing through me as he studies me intently.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his deep voice a rumble.

“I-I think so,” I manage to stammer, my words slurred.

“Fuck.” With a grunt, I push myself up into a sitting position.

More profanities slip from my lips as the room spins around me, my body swaying with the movement.

I take a few shallow breaths, my heart still racing in my chest.

I force myself to turn my head, taking in the sight of my unexpected savior as he crouches down to the floor next to me in a suit that certainly costs more than I earn in a month.

Somehow his presence is reassuring and intimidating at the same time.

“Thank you, Mr. Moretti,” I murmur, my voice weak.

“Fabrizio,” he corrects, his deep voice low and smooth. “Though the circumstances could be better, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Walsh.” He offers me a small, wry smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “My children talk about you all the time.”

I can only manage a weak smile in response to his words.

I feel a jolt of electricity run through me as his fingers brush against my cheek. It’s a feather-light touch, but it sets my heart racing all over again. I flinch back instinctively, my skin tingling from the contact.

“You are bleeding,” he notes.

As I meet his gaze, I’m struck by the intensity of his eyes—so blue, so piercing—that it feels as if he sees right through me.

He reaches out again, his fingers gently tilting my head to the side. I feel a stinging sensation as the air hits the cut, making me wince.

“I-I’m sure it’s nothing,” I try to reassure him, but he just grunts in response.

Before I can react, he’s surging to his feet, his movements so swift that my foggy mind can barely track them. I feel a wave of dizziness wash over me at the sudden motion before me, forcing me to reach out for support.

Without hesitation, he offers me his hand, his fingers closing around mine. He pulls me up with ease, catching me when my knees buckle. I feel his big hands settle at my waist, his grip firm as he supports my weight. It’s a shockingly intimate touch, sending a shiver running down my spine.

A masculine scent flows into my nostrils, the delicious fragrance nearly taking my breath away. I have to tilt my head up to look at him; everything around me is still spinning, but I manage to focus on Fabrizio’s face. The man is gorgeous, but the look of predatory hunger crossing his face when he looks down at me is terrifying. His icy gaze piercing right into the depths of my soul is the last thing I see…

… before everything around me goes black again.

Two

Sienna

The second my eyelids flutter open, I’m assaulted by a jarring mixture of unfamiliar sensations. My mind feels like it’s stuffed with nothing but cotton, and my head is pounding as if a jackhammer is having the time of his life inside of it. I struggle to fully open my lids and take in my surroundings, then a rolling wave of nausea crashes over me, leaving a bitter taste in the back of my mouth.

---